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The controls are not as awkward as we expected, but we still prefer pushing buttons.

Compatibility does not appear to be this iPod's strong suit. We tried this iPod with a Shuffle 2nd Generation dock, but it doesn't fit. We tried the cable with a Shuffle 2nd Generation, and that didn't work either.

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Upon connecting the shuffle to a computer, we learned that the voice-over feature must first be downloaded via iTunes.

Interestingly enough, normal headphones can still be used to listen to music. The only drawback: without Apple's proprietary headphone playback control, you will not be able to change songs or adjust the volume.

The headphone playback control offers two buttons for volume control and a center button for playback control. The center button can be clicked once to play, twice for the next track, and three times for the previous track.

The entire headphone assembly is very frail. I assume that making your own adapter for use with aftermarket headphones would be a waste of time -- provided that Apple's adapter is not terribly expensive.

Hey Miro, another question: Inside those headphones does it appear there are any ICs or anything? There is a rumor going around that there is some sort of handshake or DRM that would prevent cloned headphones from working, but from your image they look simply like analog buttons. Is there something on the other side?

If the play button is on the proprietary earbuds cable, how does one play and pause the ipod shuffle 3rd gen with a third-party device? Does it just start playing as soon as you turn it on?

The third party adapter would have to include the play/pause and volume up/down buttons, otherwise it would be of no value to the user. The player does start playing as soon as you turn it on, which is how we were able to test our non-shuffle earbuds without any adapter.

Don’t lift the rear cover from the top left corner because there is a small hook on the middle of the top side and if you lift it from the top the hook will try to hold it into position which will cause the rear panel to bend

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This is not a surprise, but like all other Shuffles, the battery is soldered to the logic board. Apple does offer a battery replacement service, but $49 is pretty steep considering the entire iPod was only $79.

It looks like there's some chipping to the anodizing around the edges.. do you think it will be possible to open these without the chipping?

It's definitely possible -- but with a careful hand, patience, and advance knowledge of how the rear cover is held in place. For the First Look we had two of three. We had to pry the rear cover a bit more than necessary to figure out what mechanisms are holding it in place.

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To calculate the capacity in amp-hours, we know P(power) = I(amps)*V(volts), so I = P/V. That yields a capacity of about .073 amp-hours, or 73 mAh. That's definitely record-breakingly small in terms of iPod batteries.

Yes, please investigate the headset more if you could, would love a diagram and to see the other side of the button PCB. I have been really wanting to see more details about the remote with mic internals and if there are any chips involved. (not likely given the size)

Wiring schematic would be amazing seeing as there is no place online that provides them as of yet.

Yes, please investigate the headset more if you could, would love a diagram and to see the other side of the button PCB. I have been really wanting to see more details about the remote with mic internals and if there are any chips involved. (not likely given the size)

Wiring schematic would be amazing seeing as there is no place online that provides them as of yet.

Yep, me too! The EFF is claiming that there is DRM in the remote interface, based on very weak evidence: the ilounge people heard some beeping and assumed it was some sort of DRM.

If pictures aren't easy to do, I'd like to know if there is an IC back there, or just a couple of resistors.

When you disassembled the headphone, did you notice any kind of authentication chip? There's a small brouhaha going on sparked by a reviewer on iLounge.com asserting that the an Apple authentication chip is required for the headphones to work with the new shuffle. I find it a little hard to believe that there is such a chip in the headphones, so just wondering if you saw anything unusual. Thanks.

When you disassembled the headphone, did you notice any kind of authentication chip? There's a small brouhaha going on sparked by a reviewer on iLounge.com asserting that the an Apple authentication chip is required for the headphones to work with the new shuffle. I find it a little hard to believe that there is such a chip in the headphones, so just wondering if you saw anything unusual. Thanks.

I came especially to ask this question. A lot of people are really interested to know this.